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Grade 4 · Maths · Lessons
Why multiplying works
🟦boxes✂️split✖️times➕add boxes
An area model.
The big ideaSplit by place value, make a box for each pair, add the boxes.

How it works

Split a number by place value, make a box for each pair, and add the boxes.

56 × 6: split 56 into 50 and 6. 50 × 6 = 300 and 6 × 6 = 36.

Add the boxes: 300 + 36 = 336.

50 × 6• 3006 × 6• 36
56 × 6 in boxes.

Example 1: One digit

  1. ? = 56 × 6
  2. Split 56 into 50 and 6.
  3. 50 × 6 = 300 and 6 × 6 = 36.
  4. 300 + 36 = 336.
  5. So the answer is 336.

Example 2: Two digits

  1. 33 × 56 = ?
  2. Split both: 30 and 3, 50 and 6.
  3. 30 × 50 = 1500, 30 × 6 = 180, 3 × 50 = 150, 3 × 6 = 18.
  4. 1500 + 180 + 150 + 18 = 1848.
  5. So the answer is 1848.

Example 3: One box

  1. 40 × 6 = ?
  2. 347 × 6 splits into 300, 40 and 7.
  3. Find the box for 40 × 6.
  4. 40 × 6 = 240.
  5. So the answer is 240.

Words to know

area model
Boxes that show the parts of a multiplication.
partial product
One box's answer.

Watch out

Try it

  1. ? = 67 × 5
  2. ? = 67 × 18
  3. 6528 × 5 = ?
Answers: 1. 335 · 2. 1206 · 3. 32640
For grown-upsDraw the boxes on squared paper for a multiplication and colour each one.
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